Brownies: Their Book

<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</SPAN></span></p> <h2>THE BROWNIES AT BASE-BALL.</h2> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i078a.png" width-obs="560" height-obs="127" alt="One evening, from a shaded spot, The Brownies viewed a level lot" title="" /></div> <div class='center'> <table class="level" summary="level"> <tr><td align='left'><div class='poem7'><br/> Where clubs from different cities came<br/> To play the nation's favorite game.<br/> <br/> Then spoke a member of the band:<br/></div> <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/></td></tr> </table></div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</SPAN></span></p> <div class="figcenter"></div> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem and illustration"> <tr><td align='left'><ANTIMG src="images/i079a.png" width-obs="206" height-obs="254" alt="planning the diamond" title="" /> </td><td align='left'>"This game extends throughout the land;<br/> No city, town, or village 'round,<br/> But has its club, and diamond ground,<br/> With bases marked, and paths between,<br/> And seats for crowds to view the scene.<br/> At other games we've not been slow<br/> Our mystic art and skill to show;<br/> Let's take our turn at ball and bat,<br/> And prove ourselves expert at that."<br/> <br/> Another answered: "I <ANTIMG src="images/i079b.png" width-obs="16" height-obs="17" alt="ball" title="" /> have planned<br/> A method to equip &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; our band.<br/></td></tr> </table></div> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem and illustration"> <tr><td align='left'>There is a firm in yonder town,<br/> Whose goods have won them wide renown;<br/> Their special branch of business lies<br/> In sending forth these club supplies.<br/> The balls are wound as hard as stones,<br/> The bats are turned as smooth as bones,<br/> And masks are made to guard the nose<br/> Of him who fears the batter's blows,<br/> </td><td align='left'><ANTIMG src="images/i079c.png" width-obs="171" height-obs="150" alt="Trying to catch the ball" title="" /> </td></tr> </table></div> <div class='center'> <table class="baseball" summary="baseball"> <tr><td align='left'><br/><br/><div class='poem'> Or stops the pitcher's curves and throws.<br/> To know the place such goods to find,<br/> Is quite enough for Browny-kind!"<br/> When hungry bats came forth to wheel<br/> 'Round eaves and find their evening meal,<br/> The cunning Brownies sought the store,<br/> To work their way through sash and door.<br/> And soon their beaming faces told<br/> Success had crowned their efforts bold.<br/> A goodly number of the throng<br/> Took extra implements along,<br/></div> <br/></td></tr> </table></div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</SPAN></span></p> <div class='poem'> In case of mishap on the way,<br/> Or loss, or breakage during play.<br/> The night was clear, the road was good,<br/> And soon within the field they stood.<br/> <br/></div> <div class='center'> <table class="turnabout" summary="turnabout"> <tr><td align='left'> Then games were played without a<br/> <span style="margin-left: 4em;">pause,</span><br/> According to the printed laws.<br/> There, turn about, each took his place<br/> At first or third or second base,<br/> <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/></td></tr> </table></div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</SPAN></span></p> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem and drawing"> <tr><td align='left'>At left or right or center field.<br/> To pitch, to catch, or bat to wield,<br/> Or else as "short-stop" standing by<br/> To catch a "grounder" or a "fly."<br/> <br/> Soon every corner of the ground<br/> Its separate set of players found.<br/> A dozen games upon the green,<br/> With ins and outs might there be seen;<br/></td><td align='left'><ANTIMG src="images/i081a.png" width-obs="110" height-obs="173" alt="Trying to hit the ball" title="" /> </td></tr> </table></div> <div class='poem'> The umpires noting all with care<br/> To tell if hits were foul or fair,<br/></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i081b.png" width-obs="508" height-obs="208" alt="sliding in" title="" /></div> <div class='poem'> The "strikes" and "balls" to plainly shout,<br/> And say if men were "safe" or "out,"<br/> And give decision just and wise<br/> When knotty questions would arise.<br/></div> <div class='center'> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Poem and illustration"> <tr><td align='left'><ANTIMG src="images/i081c.png" width-obs="139" height-obs="151" alt="In the tummy" title="" /> </td><td align='left'>But many Brownies thought it best<br/> To leave the sport and watch the rest;<br/> And from the seats or fences high<br/> They viewed the scene with anxious eye<br/> And never failed, the contest through,<br/> To render praise when praise was due.<br/> </td><td align='left'><ANTIMG src="images/i081d.png" width-obs="81" height-obs="158" alt="policeman" title="" /> </td></tr> </table></div> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</SPAN></span></p> <div class='poem'> While others, freed from games on hand,<br/> In merry groups aside would stand,<br/> And pitch and catch with rarest skill<br/> To keep themselves in practice still.<br/></div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i082.png" width-obs="506" height-obs="529" alt="Playing ball" title="" /></div> <div class='poem'> Now "double plays" and balls well curved<br/> And "base hits" often were observed,<br/> While "errors" were but seldom seen<br/> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />